check continuity between the outlet and the circuit breaker / fuse box in the basement.
in my 'built-in-the-1800s' apartment (former place. thank god) they had thankfully run a ground wire from the metal outlet box down the metal conduit to the metal breaker box... so i simply had to jumper the hospital-grade outlet i installed over to the conduit or box, and viola, i had a 'proper' ground.
this would seem to be the source of your problem (grounding) - assuming you don't have anything nasty like an airconditioner or computer etc. on the same circuit. the only thing that concerns me is the whole 'sometimes it's gone, but when i touch it...' thing - you could be dealing w/ failed / faulty equpment? best of luck!
in my 'built-in-the-1800s' apartment (former place. thank god) they had thankfully run a ground wire from the metal outlet box down the metal conduit to the metal breaker box... so i simply had to jumper the hospital-grade outlet i installed over to the conduit or box, and viola, i had a 'proper' ground.
this would seem to be the source of your problem (grounding) - assuming you don't have anything nasty like an airconditioner or computer etc. on the same circuit. the only thing that concerns me is the whole 'sometimes it's gone, but when i touch it...' thing - you could be dealing w/ failed / faulty equpment? best of luck!